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Magpie Ninja
1st PlaceMagpie Ninja
Dennisheckman


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2015-04 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X
Lens: Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS II USM
Location: Red Rocks Park, Denver CO
Date: Apr 23, 2015
Aperture: f/6.7
ISO: 1250
Shutter: 1/2000
Date Uploaded: Apr 5, 2015

 I was on a long lunch at Red Rocks Park, out looking for birds to photograph. I really did not find any, but on my way back to the office, I noticed some activity along side the road. A Magpie was harassing a snake. So I turned around as soon as I could and quickly set up about 80 feet away and started taking pics of the skirmish. The snake really stood its ground very well. In fact, when the Magpie wasn't paying attention, the snake would strike out at it making the Magpie jump in the air. Quite funny to watch. This image reminded me of the movie "Karate Kid" with the final move of the competition. Well, maybe that's just my strange imagination.

I took over 2000 bird photos the month of April. It was pretty hard to pic one for the FS. May will be even better for birds here in Colorado. They really don't migrate through till mid May. I guess expect another bird image for May FS!


Holy Moly! Thanks for all great comments! and votes of course. April was a very fun month for finding and shooting birds. I hope to continue my qwest during May and June. That's when Colorado really comes alive with bird activity. As soon as it quits snowing!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 147
Avg (all users): 7.6588
Avg (commenters): 8.5294
Avg (participants): 7.7143
Avg (non-participants): 7.5000
Views since voting: 3858
Views during voting: 175
Votes: 85
Comments: 50
Favorites: 17 (view)

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AuthorThread
 10/23/2020 09:22:33 PM
of course browsing thru your photos i had to comment on this .
holy moly ..!! .. (what a great expression .. havent heard it in a while) .. this pic is a real attention grabber .. ;)

this is EXTRAORDINARY .. what a fantastic moment you captured ..
congratulations on the blue .. could be in a national geographic magazine .. or online .. whatever they do these days ..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2016 12:11:41 PM
Absolutely breathtaking shot! Talk about being in the right place at the right time (not to mention having your camera ready and able to take such a sharp, well-composed pic)! Well done and well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/11/2015 01:10:55 PM
what a catch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2015 09:13:21 AM
Really nice capture of the interaction between these two. Congratulations on the Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/10/2015 01:56:04 AM
Incredible!
This is something else than butterflies. Sublime shot Dennis
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2015 02:22:07 PM
Definitely Karate Kid.

Definitely.

Kudos to you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/09/2015 04:50:52 AM
Congrats on the blue, as far as wildlife photography goes it doesn't get much better than this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 08:18:31 PM
Lovely! Congrats!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 07:26:41 PM
Outstanding work, Dennis. I gave it one of my top scores!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 05:29:24 PM
I'm still wondering which animal won... Never had a doubt about which photo would win, though. Congrats on the blue, very well-deserved!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 03:01:20 PM
Originally posted by twmax:
Dennis, I really learned to appreciate your art during the April bird side challenge. This is another incredible image! I wish I had half your talent.


Thanks Tom, most of this was being at the right place, right time and keeping my eyes open.
 05/08/2015 02:59:36 PM
Originally posted by Neil:
Wow. Great!

Who won (besides you!)

And what kind of snake is this?

I see this winning a lot of nature/wildlife contests!


Well, I'd have to say the snake won this round!

And to the kind of snake.... I would have to say it's a damned lucky snake!

Thanks Neil.
05/08/2015 01:28:18 PM
Wow. Great!

Who won (besides you!)?

And what kind of snake is this?

I see this winning a lot of nature/wildlife contests!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 01:02:21 PM
Dennis, I really learned to appreciate your art during the April bird side challenge. This is another incredible image! I wish I had half your talent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 11:41:54 AM
Wonderful shot. Sometimes the best are the ones we are not looking for. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 08:10:48 AM
I just KNEW this would be the winner. You need to enter it in some national contests. Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 07:56:54 AM
beautiful shot! And I'm pretty sure your camera/lens combo on this shot costs more than my car....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 07:00:03 AM
Great eye spotting the skirmish while driving! Congrats on the blue. And on bringing out all those commenters!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 06:43:00 AM
Wow!!! what a capture! Cangrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 05:58:35 AM
Congrats! Superb timing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 05:17:31 AM
Wow, Super capture of this pair!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 04:46:42 AM
Absolutely incredible capture, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 03:47:48 AM
SWEEP THE LEG!!! Amazing capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/08/2015 12:44:40 AM
Congrats on the Blue, Dennis, this shot really deserves it!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 10:48:01 PM
WTG Dennis - what a great capture! Are you having fun with your 600mm? :)

Congrats on your shining blue ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 09:57:59 PM
absolutely awesome shot :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 09:51:59 PM
This is really an awesome moment perfectly captured. I admire how you managed to have bird and snake in the very small part of sharpness
Congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 09:40:36 PM
Congrats on a well deserved blue. So pleased to see this take the blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 08:23:32 PM
Brilliant!

Looks sharper now than it did before!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 08:09:25 PM
Khia... Take that. Well done Dennis. Excellent capture and deserved Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/07/2015 05:28:05 PM
The battle between evil and evil
Amazing
bump
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 05:22:41 PM
Incredible capture. Some artful processing could have improved the impact. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 04:40:01 PM
What a moment!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 11:37:24 AM
Great catch, exactly on the right moment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 11:02:26 AM
Wow now that is something else. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/07/2015 07:32:17 AM
Wonderful details
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2015 06:28:35 PM
Now that's a good find, top 5 I reckon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2015 03:22:45 PM
what a fabulous capture! Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2015 03:45:41 PM
Oh, wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2015 02:20:24 PM
Astonishing capture ΓΆ€“ great title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2015 11:45:06 AM
Amazing still.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2015 06:39:39 PM
wow

awesome timing ! congrats!
10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2015 06:36:18 PM
who won? nice capture (wax on wax off)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2015 03:21:57 PM
What amazing timing. Wonderfully unique with spot on with your focus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2015 09:22:28 AM
Exciting image, top 4
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/02/2015 02:43:34 AM
Nice capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/01/2015 04:32:11 PM
Oh crap! I HATE snakes.

But, you've captured this one well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/01/2015 11:50:41 AM
Favotite for thechallenge, I really like this, its an awesome capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/01/2015 02:45:00 AM
oh my oh my oh my!! What a find!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/30/2015 08:45:57 PM
Haaaa Love it!
Great timing and capture

Never vote this early, just pulling my favorites

Special mention
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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